Rhapsody Rabbit (1946)

Too much of everything

Purely Joyful Movie!

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Most animation fans know, that this title was part of a controversy at the Oscars in 1946. A strinkingly similar Tom and Jerry cartoon THE CAT CONCERTO (1947) was in production simultaneously with this title. Both studios accused each other of plagiarism. A recent investigation into the surviving records of both cartoons suggest that it was a coincidence. But onto the merits of this short.Bugs performs a rendition of List's Hungarian Rhapsody on piano on stage. Freleng had previously used this classical piece as the foundation for the main action in RHAPSODY IN RIVETS (1941). He puts it to excellent use again here. As Bugs performs the piece, he is constantly in battle with a mouse that inhabits the interior of the piano. Eventually the mouse out performs him. As with most of Freleng's music driven shorts of the 40's, there is very little dialog spoken by Bugs, as the music dictates the action as he's performing it. One of the best Bugs Bunny shorts of the 1940's. Freleng did some of the best Bugs shorts during this time frame.

Somewhat controversial Merrie Melodies short, directed by Friz Freleng and featuring Bugs Bunny. The controversy stems from its similarity to another short from MGM, the Oscar-winning Tom & Jerry classic The Cat Concerto. It's been debated for decades who ripped off who, and we'll likely never know the truth. This short was released first, and that would seemingly answer the question, but there is something very 'off' about this cartoon as it's about Bugs versus a mouse and that's most definitely more suited for the Tom & Jerry series. The gags are also more suited to Tom & Jerry, not the usual verbal trouncing and outwitting of a dumber opponent that one associates with Bugs. On its own merits, it's an enjoyable cartoon, but it is lacking compared to The Cat Concerto, in my opinion. Again, part of the problem is that it doesn't feel like a cartoon that's the right fit for Bugs, especially in 1946. It's something you will want to check out and watch, along with the Tom & Jerry short.

Friz Freleng's 'Rhapsody Rabbit' is a good cartoon that will forever live in the shadow of MGM's Oscar winning Tom and Jerry short 'The Cat Concerto'. Released the same year and strikingly similar right down to using the same piece of music (the second Hungarian Rhapsody), 'Rhapsody Rabbit' and 'The Cat Concerto' caused a battle between Warner Bros. and MGM in which each studio accused the other of plagiarism. Although it was never resolved with any certainty, it seems far more likely that 'The Cat Concerto' came first. The idea of Tom's concert being sabotaged by Jerry from inside his piano seems perfectly natural but Bugs vs. a completely new mouse character in the same situation reeks of theft! Whatever the true case, 'The Cat Concerto' is clearly the superior cartoon and makes 'Rhapsody Rabbit' seem like a cheap imitation by comparison. I do enjoy 'Rhapsody Rabbit' but more often than not it just makes me yearn to be watching 'The Cat Concerto' and this odd relationship I have with 'Rhapsody Rabbit' has pretty much overwhelmed any other feelings I might have about the cartoon. For many people it may just be down to which one they saw first (although I actually saw 'Rhapsody Rabbit' first) but to me 'The Cat Concerto' is the jaw-droopingly beautiful classic which renders 'Rhapsody Rabbit' virtually unnecessary.

In one of many Looney Tunes cartoons involving classical music, Bugs Bunny is in concert playing Franz Liszt's "Second Hungarian Rhapsody" (despite claiming to have never heard of Liszt) but gets interrupted by audience members and then by a mouse. When I heard the tune, I remembered the scene in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" where Daffy Duck and Donald Duck are playing that song and keep undermining each other's performances. Hopefully, I'm not the only one who thinks that cartoons and Franz Liszt's music are a cool mix.Anyway, "Rhapsody Rabbit" is truly part of the pantheon of classic cartoons. You may just feel like playing the piano yourself after watching this.